Friday, January 16, 2009

no vacancy

Joelle is in this stage where she questions e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. And not just that annoying 2-year-old "Why?" stage. But she wants to dig deeper and figure out the real reasons behind everything. Surface answers don't work for her; she wants the real deal.

Anyway -- so on this one particular occasion earlier this week, we were talking about the flashing red lights on the back of school buses. I was explaining to her that everytime a school bus stops -- hers included -- the red lights flash and a little stop sign pops out on the side.

I told her that this means that all of the cars, coming from both directions, have to stop.

"But why do they all have to stop, Mom?"

I explained to her that it was to protect the children walking on and off the bus. To make sure that nobody got driven over by other vehicles.

Joelle: Like me!

Me: Yes, sweetie -- like you.

Joelle: Then you'd have to have another baby.

Me: What?! Why...??

Joelle(very matter-of-factly): Well, what would I do with my room?

Oh right. 'Cause that would be our main concern if something tragic and unthinkable like that would happen to our precious first-born. We would o-b-v-i-o-u-s-l-y want to reproduce again as quickly as possible so that we wouldn't be at a loss as to what to do with the vacant bedroom.

There is no way they can understand until they have a child of their own. It's not something you can comprehend or put into words. I remember after having Hailey thinking, "WOW! My parents really love me." You know it, but you just don't understand it.